It was on this day in 1951 that Alice in Wonderland was released to theatres for the world to enjoy!
The title track which was written by Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain and was performed by the Jud Conlon Chorus, was recorded a few years later by jazz musician DAVE BRUBECK and his quartet in 1957.
This version is a bit different than the Bill Evans version I posted before. The Evans version keeps the 6/8 feel of the original, but Brubeck speeds up the song a bit and plays it in 4/4.
I was so impressed by this unique EP by POGO, aka Nick Bertke, when I heard it last week that I knew that I had to share another track with you today. In fact, I've decided to make this whole week Remix Week. Each day will focus on a different style of music remixing.
Bertke uses samples (sound clips) from Alice in Wonderland to create all new songs. About 90% of the sounds you will hear in this track, titled Alice, are from the film. I can't imagine the amount of time it would take to edit something like this. It's unique and sounds great.
The most recognizable sample in this song is a line from Very Good Advice. All four of the tracks can be downloaded for free here.
Cartoon Brew pointed out this new South African artist who took samples from Alice in Wonderland and mixed them in to a song all of their own. Although it's not really a cover, it is really cool and I knew I had to share it with you as soon as I heard it!
19-year-old Nick Bertke is the genius behind this music. He says of the four tracks he recorded “90% is composed using sounds recorded from the Disney film ‘Alice In Wonderland’.” The amount of time and editing that went into these songs must be incredible. Take a listen and you'll know what I'm talking about.
In this one track, titled Bread and Butterflies, you'll hear samples from Painting the Roses the Red, Twas Brillig and Golden Afternoon. All four of the tracks can be downloaded for free here.
Today I'm posting the third song from Alice in Wonderland this month! Joe, whoever you are, you must be happy now! Not only does this continue to fill Joe's request, but it also fills an anonymous request for this version of the title song by the BILL EVANS TRIO.
Bill Evans is one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century. His use of syncopated and polyrhythmic melodic lines changed the way many jazz pianists interpreted melodies. He also took a new approach to soloing that often meant two people would solo together in a sort of 'conversation'.
Alice in Wonderland (Take 1) was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in July 1961. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD collects the best of the five sessions recorded that day and is often said to be one of the best jazz recordings of all time. You'll notice that there is also Alice in Wonderland (Take 2) on this album. Last year a box set came out collecting all of the recording from these sessions.
The Bill Evans Trio featured bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. SUNDAY AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD is the last time this trio would play together as LaFaro was killed in a car accident ten days later.
I chose to post this song because today marks the anniversary of Lewis Carrol's death in 1898. And in two weeks, on January 27th, marks the anniversary of his birth in 1832! No wonder I'm playing so much Alice in Wonderland this month!
Finishing up Big Band Week we have a Terrible Track that comes from a live concert in London last year.
English alternative rocker, Jarvis Cocker, thought it would be a great treat to put on a two and a half hour concert of Disney music by some of the UK's most alternative musicians as part of his Meltdown festival in June 2007. He called it Forest of No Return and his main influence was Hal Willner's 1988 compilation album STAY AWAKE.
I didn't get to go to this show but a friend found a bootleg copy of it and sent it to me. The bootleg really is just a guy with a recording device in his jacket pocket. The sound quality is awful and that is one big reason why this is a terrible track.
ED HARCOURT, an English singer-songwriter sang a few numbers throughout the night but this one was probably his weakest. There are parts where I question if even knows what the melody is supposed to be. And about three minutes in, when he starts getting more...creative with the melody, it causes me to skip to the next track.
However, his piano playing is quite excellent and I read a review that said he had a whole-head rabbit mask put on his head right before his piano solo. Ed was still able to pull of a good solo.
The big band arrangement of this piece sounds great but the crappy recording and bad singing causes me to put this on the "terrible" list. I would love to hear a studio recording of this song! Will we get it? Maybe in a world of my own.
One of my readers, Joe, has requested some Alice in Wonderland covers and I am here to deliver! Tying that into another event, if the voice of the Cheshire Cat, Sterling Holloway, was still alive today he would turn 102! Happy birthday!
STERLING HOLOWAY did a lot of work with Disney. And I mean a lot! He was the narrator in a number of Disney shorts, Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort in The Aristocats, and of course, Winnie the Pooh, a role that he voiced until his retirement in 1979!
If I could have, I would have posted a cover of the Jabberwocky song that the Cheshire Cat sings in Alice in Wonderland. So instead I give you Very Good Advice. This song is a turning point in the film for Alice. She desperately tries to be an adult but realizes in this song that she still has a lot to learn.
THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET take the melody and turn it into a happy jazz standard. It doesn't really follow the same feel as its original counterpart. If you own DAVE DIGS DISNEY on vinyl you won't hear this song as it is an unreleased track from the studio sessions that was included on the CD release.
Over the years, many musical artists have paid tribute to the music of Disney. This blog pays tribute to those artists.
You won't find any original Disney songs here, these are all covers, interpretations and variations on the tunes we all love.
Covering the Mouse is not associated with Disney or any major record label. If you wish to have a song removed from my site, please email me and I will be happy to comply.
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